Control means for weft ends in looms



Oct. 2, 11951 R. G. TURNER CONTROL MEANS FOR WEFT ENDS IN LOOMS FiledMay 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l RICHARD Q TURNER `ATTORNEY OC- 2, 1951 R.G. TURNER CONTROL MEANS FOR wEFT ENDS 1N LOOMs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 5, 1950 V. v .Ml/

INVENTOR RICHARD G. TURNER ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., -as'signor toCrompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts A Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,167

12 Claims. (Cl. 139-247) This invention relates to improvementspneumatic thread control systems for weft replenishing looms and moreparticularly the thread holder and thread collector.

The weft ends of reserve bobbins in the magazine for weft replenishinglooms generally lead to some form of thread holder one purpose of whichis to hold the thread of a transferred bobbin so that the shuttle may beat least partially threaded on its first flight subsequent toreplenishment. `In recent years pneumatic thread holders have gone intoextensive use more, particularly on multicolor weft replenishing looms.These thread holders are made with an intake mouth and a` passageleading to a thread accumulator or collector Within which subatmosphericpressures exist. The weft ends from the reserve bobbins enter the mouthand extend through the passage into the collector and become matted witheach other to form a mass of yarn which serves as an auxiliary orsupplementary holder. transferred bobbin is cut at the cloth selvage it.is drawn pneumatically through the holder into the collector where it isconfined so that it cannot be whipped into the warp shed by the shuttle.

In the Weaving `of certain fabrics difiiculty is experienced ineffecting satisfactory patial threading of the shuttle on the flrst picksubsequent to replenishment. This diflculty arises more particularly inconnection with reverse wind Wefts, but it is not necessarily limited tosuch wefts. In order to take care of this condition I have heretoforeproposed, as shown for instance in my co-pending application Serial No,932793, led May 17, 1949, now Patent No. 2,531,177, a mounting for theholder and collector by which these parts are moved rearwardly fromtheir normal position to facilitate threading of the shuttle and arethen moved forwardly so that the thread of the freshly transferredbobbin will 'be drawn toward theo'rk of 'the center filling stop motion.When the thread holder and collector move away from the magazine theweft ends are subjected to a tension whichmay break them, and in orderto relieve this tension the aforesaid application shows the` holder andcollector mounted to swing around a center on their supporting lever sothat there f will not be an appreciable increase in the length of theweft ends extending from the bobbins to" the thread holder.

It is an important object `of the present invention to provide thethread collector lwith a When the thread of a` thread retainer rollmounted for rotation inthe collector and around which the weft ends areWrapped; When the thread holder and collector move awayfrom the magazinethe roll has l a reverse turn to pay oif a suiicient length of weft*ends to compensatefor -the increase in distahoe between the threadholder and the maga-` zine'.- When thefholderv andlcolle'ctor return to`ward the magazine a stream of air entering the collector from thethreadholder iscdirectedtanf gentially against theroll or thethreadsthereon toturn the roll in such direction as t'o vtake up slack `intheweft ends.

Itlis-anotherobject of the invention tomountthe thread roll in thecollector so that it can belreadi-ly removed from the support on whichit turns to `enable the weaver to remove an excess accumulationof wastethreadsfroin the thread collector.

It is a `stillfurther" object of the invention to make `the roll intheform of a `cone Whichtapers andA collector unit bymeans of which it canbe.

swung backwardlyand forwardly in the loom at the time of a bobbintransfer, this mounting eliminating some of the structure set forth inthe aforesaid copending application.

With these and other objects in View which will appear asthe'description proceeds, the in.-

vention residesv in the combination and arrange-, ment of partshereinafter decribed and set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a convenient-embodiment of theinvention is set forth, f

Fig. itis a side elevation of part of a weft re-` plenishing loom havingthe invention applied thereto, the lay; Shuttle and shuttle box beingshown in ,cross section,

Fig. 2 isa plan view looking inthe direction` of arrow 2, Fig. 1',

Fig. 3- is a diagrammatic view showing the thread `holder in its frontandl backpositions,

Fig. 4` is `an enlarged horizontal section on Fig. 5 is avertical-section on line' 5-5, Fig. 4, Fig'. .6l isa diagrammatic viewillustrating 'the` manner in which-*thestream of air entering thethreadvcollector tends to rotate the thread retainer reifen which-thewert ends are wrapped; p `and an air passage 8 located in a base 9. Asshown in Fig. 4 a tube II), preferably rubber, leads from the right endof passage 8 into athread collector C.

The magazine M is rocked around its'pivot 3 by a train of connectionsincluding a-rod II and a second rod I2 connected to a hook I3 movableinto and out of the path of a pin I4 on a normally stationary lever I5rockedfby lever I6 incident to a weft replenishing operation.

The stand 2 supports a Atransferrer arm Il movable to insert the lowestbobbin in one or the other of the stacks l or 5, dependingupon theposition of the magazine, into a shuttle S on the lay L. The magazine isintended more particularly for use in a loom -having two shuttles whichmay be called at will, and the magazine will normally be in the positionshown in Fig, 1 with the lowest bobbin of one of the stacks under thetransferrer arm I'I. If the shuttle corresponding to this stack is to bereplenished there will be no rocking of the magazine, but if the othershuttle is to'beA replenished a downward pull of rod I2 when lever I5 isrocked will place the lowest bobbin in the other stack in transferposition. The levers I5. and I6 may be controlled for instance as setforth in my prior Patent No. 2,162,490.

A pneumatic pump 20. connected by hose 2I to the top cover 22 ofcollector C may be used to create subatmospheric pressureswithin thecollector. Cover 22 may be lifted upon release of a bail 23 for removalof waste threads.

In the operation of the matter thus far described subatmosphericpressures within the collector C cause a stream of air to enter mouth 1,pass out of tube Ill, and enter the collector. AAny weft ends in thisstream will be drawn into the collector and will be held taut. When abobbin is transferred into ashuttle its weft end will be held by theholder 6 to effect at least partial threading of the shuttle when thelatter is picked.

As has already been stated there are some conditions of weaving underwhich it is desirable to move the thread holder in order to effectproper threading of vthe shuttle and also correct placement of thethread ofthe transferred bobbin under the filling fork as thereplenished shuttle crosses the lay.` Theserconditions Aare shown inFig. 3, where the lay is shown in full lines in picking position and indotted lines in a position it can occupy while the shuttle is in flightand beyond the filling fork F` If the shuttle has been replenished by abobbin drawn for instance from the front stack, its thread, identifiedhere at T, will extend from the holder 9 to the shuttle and in order.that thelatter maybe at least partially threaded during its firstflight after `transfer the thread holder nwill be inthe full lineposition shown in Fig. 3, that is, al position corresponding toapproximately top center position of thelay.V When the thread holderisthus related to thel If the thread holder should remain in therelatively rearward position shown in full lines inl Fig. 3 the thread Tmight be too far behind the filling fork F to support the latter and theloom would be stopped unnecessarily. In order to prevent this stoppagethe thread holder is moved forwardly, to the left in Fig. 3, to thedotted line position so that the thread T will be drawn forwardly to aposition favorable for cooperation with the filling fork F. Theseconditions are similar to those described in the aforesaid copendingapplication.

In order that the thread holder and collector unit may be mounted forbodily movement to the two positions indicated in Fig. 3 the base 9 isclamped as at 25 to a foot 26 on a lever 21 pivoted as at 26 to a standdesignated generally at 29 and bolted to th-e loom frame as at 30. Thelever 2l has an arm or finger 3l connected to one end of a tensionspring- 32 the other end of which is connected as at 33 to a small stand34'secured as at, 35 to the support V29. Stand 34 has front and backstop screws 36 and 31, respectively, positioned for engagement with thelever 2'! to limit its swinging movement about pivot 28.

A flexible connector dll, which may be a cableY nector lli) extendsdownwardly and is attached to a spring lli the lower end of which isconnected to a lrelatively small lever 45 on a stationary pivot 136 andextending under a pin 11 on lever I5.

The thread holder and collector C and mount-Y ing therefor will normallybe in the position shown in Fig. 2 with spring 32 acting to hold thelever 2l against forward stop screw 36 so that the thread holder andcollector will be forward corresponding to the dotted line position ofthese parts shown in Fig. 3. When a weft replenishing operation occurspin 4l will be depressed by lever I5 and the cord l0 will be stressedthrough spring 4d, which is strong enough to overpower spring- 32.1 Thelever 2l thereupon swings in a counter-clockwise direction around pivot28 as viewed in Fig. 2, until it engages the rear stop screw 3.7. Thiswill locate the thread holder and collector in a position correspondingto the full line position indicated in Fig. 3, and the holder andcollector will be in this position at about the time the freshlyreplenished shuttle is picked. While 'the shuttle is still in iiight andreaches some such position as shown in dotted lines in Fig.V 3, the pin4l will rise with the rear end of lever i5, Awhereupon the spring 32will return the thread holder and collector to their normal forwardpositions to place the thread of the freshly lineto the full lineposition the distance between the reserve bobbins of the magazine andthe thread holder will be increased andthe weft ends,

particularly those of the front stack of bobbins.

ends.Y

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the baseA 9 mhas secured thereto andA4extending upwardly theref from a rigid upright or support rod 50 whichisH preferably coaxial with the vertical Vhollow cylinder 5,! :of thethread collector C.. V.This ,rod isxed replenished shuttle favorably forthe lling fork" attacca so.` that l it does-.not rotate: but has:` aithread retainer roll R mounted for rotation on itsv RolllR may be madeasa` hollow conicallshell 52 the upper interiorpart of whichthas securedtherein a wear plug 53- resting on the top of rod 50. The latten holdsrollR high enoughlso that -its lower large` end will bespaced slightlyabove thetop surface 540i base 9 within the threadl collector.

A1 sheet metal web `55= secured within the roll has# an aperture toreceive rod 5|] and limits swinging motionV of the roll on therod.

As illustrated diag-rammatically in Fig'. 6 the tube lillV is'sodisposed that the stream\ of a-ir issuing from it into thecollector isdirected tan`l gentially of ther roll R and tends to turn the rollinea-direction to wind the weft ends onit.. rIhis turningA of the rollis counter-clockwise-as viewedin Fig. 6, and as-theweft endsfWI' andl W2issue from the tube It' they will tendA tolwra-p around theouter surfaceof the-roll which may, if desired,

be` roughened in order toinsure better holding break as-the'lever 21swings rearwardly. When` the threadY holder and collector return totheirfor-wardposition the weft ends WI and W2' may becomemomentarilyslackened, but the existence of subatmospheric pressures within the'collector C' and also the tendency of air entering the collector torotate the rollI will act quickly' to drawl thefthreadV slack backintothe'collector andthe weft ends will again become taut and be held"abovethe lay.

'It will thus be seen that the' thread holder, the thread collectorandthe base can' be rigidly secure'das a unit to thelever21andthatthelatterl can swingfabout its pivot 28 without danger of` breaking theweft ends; and further'thatasV the" result of pneumatic action therollupon resumingV its normal tendency to rotate counter-clockwise asviewedin Fig. 6 will quickly takeup any slack in the weft ends resulting fromreturn of' thev thread holder and collector to their normal forwardposition.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth meansby which the thread holder and thread collector can be secured rigidlyto the lever 21 and swing rearwardly with thelatter without danger ofbreaking the` weft ends WI and W2 due to a reverse turning of the rollRinV the thread collector on which the weft ends are wrapped. Because ofthe ability of ithe` roll R to rotate it is not necessary to mount thebase 9 for angular movement relatively to the lever 21. It will also beapparent that when a considerable amount of thread accumulates on theroll the cover 22 may be removed and the roll lifted out of thecollector so that the waste thread therein can be removed. Furthermore,the roll is supported by the support rod 50 so that its lower end isabove the supporting base and does not drag on or frictionally engageit.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes andmodiiications of the foregoing specic disclosure may be made withoutdeparting from the'` spirit and` scope o1'` the ini? vention.

What is `claimed as new is:` c l. In control mechanism for the weftendso'f reserve bobbins ina weft replenishingv loom,ya1V thread holderfor said weft ends, ahollowthreadl` collector into which said weft endsextend froml the thread holder, means mounting saidtholder` andcollector for movementfrom on'epositioxr` relatively close to thereserve bobbins toy another` position relatively far from said reservel'iobbins,A and a rotatable thread retainer within thetcollf lectoraround which the weft ends are wrapped?,l

said retainer rotating in a direction to unwrap alengthk of saidweftends to compensate` for-the? difference in distance of the twopositions ol the-1r thread holder and collector from the'reservebobfbins when saidholder and collector move` from'l said one positionthereof to the other position:

thereof'.

2A In control mechanism for the weft ends-of reserve bobbins in a. weftreplenishing loorx'i-ba` hollow pneumatic thread holder; a thread col-1lector'within which subatmospheric pressures'ex-A ist and the interiorof which isV inpneumaticl communication with the holder, a thread re#-tainer rotatably mounted within the collector, the weft ends extendingfrom the reserve bobblnsf through the holder into the collectorandl"'being` wrapped around'said retainer, and-means mount-1y ing theholder and collector for movement inl a`v direction away from thereserve bobbins; saldi'` retainer during said movement rotating to pay"oi allength of weft ends corresponding tothe in-` crease in distance ofthe holder andcollectorv from said reserve bobbins accompanying saidmovement.

3. In control mechanism for the weft ends ofv reserve bobbins in a weftreplenishing loom, a

hollow pneumatic thread holder, a hollow thread collectorl Within whichsubatmospheric pressures i exist and the interior of which is inpneumatic communication with the hollow thread holder, aY threadretainer rotatably mounted within the thread collector,` the`subatmo'spheric pressures existing within the thread collector causinga stream ofair to move through the thread `holder into thecollector,means directing said stream :ofi

air tangentially of said retainer to cause said* stream. of airto'` tendto turn said retainer in a given direction, the weft ends extendingfromv the reserve bobbins through the holder into the containerand'beingwrapped around said retainer an'dlbeing normally taut due to thetendency off saidstream` of air to rotate the retaineriin said" givendirection, andmeans mounting said holder` and collector for a movementfrom a position relatively close to said bobbins to another positionfartherfrom said bobbins, said retainerlduring saidmovementturning in adirection oppor site `tosaid `givendirection to pay off an amountoffrweft ends tocompensate for the increase in ing said streamtangentially ofgsaidroll tending'` to cause rotation thereof in a givendirection, thefor the increasein distance of the unit from the` bobbinswhen the unit has'said movement thereof. Y y

5. `In control mechanism for the weftends of reserve bobbinsin a weftreplenishing loom, Va thread control I unit comprising a pneumaticthread holder and a hollow vertical cylindrical thread collector inwhich subatmospheric pressuresV exist, said unit having a movement awayfrom the bobbins incident to a weft replenishing operation, an uprightwithin said collector, a thread retainer roll within the collectorsupported by' said upright for rotation thereon, the weft ends extendingthrough the thread yholder into the collector and being wrappedaround-said retainer roll, said subatmospheric pressures causing astream of air to move from the thread holder into the collector, andmeans directing said ystream tangentially of said retainer roll tendingto turn the latter in a direction to keep the weft ends taut, saidretainerroll rotating on said upright to pay oiT a length of weft endsequal substantially to the increase in distance of said thread controlunit from the bobbins incident to said movement of the unit away fromthe bobbins.

6. A pneumatic thread control mechanism for a loom having weft endsextending from reserve bobbins, said mechanism comprising a pneumaticthread holder, ahollow pneumatic thread collector the interior of whichis in pneumatic communication with the thread holder, a thread re.

tainer roll within the collector, and means mounting said roll forrotation within the collector. Y

'7. A pneumaticA thread control mechanism for the weft ends of reservebobbins in a weft replenishing loom, said mechanism comprising apneumatic thread holder, a hollow thread col-V lector the interior ofwhich is in pneumatic communication with the thread holder, and a threadretainer roll rotatably mounted within the thread collector rotatable inone direction to move a thread wrapped therearound from the holdertoward the collector and rotatable in the opposite direction to enablethe thread to unwrap and move from the thread collector toward thethread holder. y

8. In thread control mechanism for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in aweft `replenishing loom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylindricalthread collector the interior of which is in pneumatic communicationwith the thread holder, an upright within the collector coaxialtherewith, and a thread retainer roll mounted on said upright. .forrotation Vthereaboutirelative to thethread collector. Y 1i l :x; V9. Inthread controlmechanismrforthefweft, ends of reserve bobbins in aweftreplenishingloom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylindricalthread collector the interior of which is in pneumatic communicationatone end thereofl with the thread holder, a support within said collectorcoaxial therewtlrand a thread retainer roll rotatable on said support,said support maintaining the end of said roll adjacent to Vsaid end ofthe collector spaced from the latter.

10. In thread control mechanism for the weft ends o f reserve bobbins ina weft replenishing loom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow Vcylin-4drical pneumatic thread collector in pneumatic communication at one endthereof with sa i dv holder, a support secured to the collector at'saidone end thereof, and a thread retainer roll rotate ably andremovably mounted on said support; f said retainer roll being removablefrom said j support by movement in a direction away `from, said end ofthe collector.

'11, In thread control mechanism for the weftJ ends of reserve bobbinsin a weft replenishingjloom, a pneumatic thread holder, a hollow cylindrical thread collector in pneumatic communication at one end thereofwith said holder, va support extending coaxially of the collectorsecured to the latter at said end thereof, and a conical thread retainerroll rotatable on and removable; from said support and tapering in adirectionaway from said end of the collector, said SuppOrtmaintainingthe large end of the cone out ofj engagement with said end of thecollector and` said retainer roll being removable from the support bymovement in a direction away from said 1 end of the collector.

l2. In a weft replenishing loom, a reserve bob-j bin magazine from whichweft ends extend, a normally stationary lever having a motion in cidentto a weft replenishing operation of theloom, and weft end controlmechanism opera-l tively interposed between the magazine and leverincluding a pneumatic thread collector havingrotatably mounted therein aroll around which the weft ends are wrapped and including alsoconnections operated by the lever when the latter has said motion movingsaid Vcollector away from the magazine, whereupon said roll turns tounwrap the weft ends to compensate for'the inf: crease in distancebetween the magazine and collector. 5

RICHARD G. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thej, le ofthis patent: Y v.

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTs Date Y Turner Feb. 1, 1949 f.

